Ronny Mauricio was replaced in the seventh inning of Saturday’s game. Luke Hales / Imagn Images
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The New York Mets, losers of 18 of 22 games, will now be down a second starting shortstop as Ronny Mauricio fractured his left thumb on a slide into first base Saturday.
Mauricio’s injury occurred in the seventh inning of the Mets’ 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Angels. With New York already having lost Francisco Lindor to a left calf strain April 23 — an ailment that’s expected to require a lengthy recovery — Mauricio will also head to the injured list.
“I’m going to have to talk to (president of baseball operations) David (Stearns),” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We need a player here (Sunday). So it’s a quick turnaround.”
The injury could force the Mets to slide Bo Bichette to shortstop, where he finished Saturday’s game. Bichette has primarily been a shortstop over the first six years of his big-league career, and he said postgame he would do whatever the team asked of him.
Thumb fractures can be long-term injuries and generally require more than one to two months to heal. The only infielder the Mets have on their 40-man roster in Triple A is third baseman Eric Wagaman, who was acquired earlier this week but was optioned Friday.
Mauricio’s injury is another painful blow to the Mets, who have the worst record in baseball and missed numerous chances to take the series from the Angels. Los Angeles snapped a seven-game losing streak on Oswald Peraza’s walk-off single.
In the first inning, Mendoza failed to challenge a run-scoring play on which an Angels runner was tagged out at third base before the run touched home plate.
“He missed it,” Mendoza said, referring to Mets replay analyst Harrison Friedland. “We called. And he missed it. Harrison is one of the best at his job. Obviously it ends up being a big play when you lose by one run. But I also think we had chances there.”
May 3, 2026
Connections: Sports Edition
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today’s puzzle